7/14/2014. United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Veterinary Services

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1 7/14/2014 Aliza Simeone VMD Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Bureau of Animal Health An Official Health Certificate = a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) This official, legal document must be completed by an Accredited Veterinarian (AV) CVIs are required for many interstate animal movements and for most international animal movement. CVIs are often required for livestock shows or fairs (e.g. PA Farm Show, many county fairs, etc.) An unofficial health certificate may just be a letter written on a vet s letterhead attesting to an animal s health status for a kennel, doggy daycare, or in some cases for travel by air. climation-certificates.aspx Interstate movement: check with the destination state to see if a CVI is required Air Travel: check with the airline in addition to the destination location because the airline can make their own rules about what they require International movement: check with USDA APHIS VS for requirements and forms For PA fairs and shows: check the fair or show book (or website) for requirements For out of state shows or fairs: check both the fair/show book or website and with the state of destination United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Veterinary Services Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Bureau of Animal Health and Diagnostic Services Both are commonly called The Department of Agriculture and are generally confused by the general public as well as private veterinarians 1

2 7/14/2014 Federal Department Area Offices around the U.S. PA has its own area office in Harrisburg Works cooperatively with states to achieve national disease eradication/ regulation goals Regulates/negotiates international movement of animals and products Commonwealth of PA Department Main office in Harrisburg 6 regional offices around PA Promulgates and enforces regulations and other regulatory articles within PA (e.g. rabies regulations, quarantines) Administers many programs with support from USDA (e.g. Johne s control, TB accreditation, Avian Influenza {AI} monitored flock) Determines requirements for entry of domestic animals into PA To be able to issue a CVI, you must be an actively Accredited Vet, authorized to perform accredited work in the state in which the animal inspection will take place to perform that work Yes, even for small animals Some examples of destinations and species that currently do not require CVIs (but usually do require rabies certificates) Canada for pet cats and dogs travelling with their owners Pet dogs and cats travelling with owners or moving with owners to Virginia or California MANY STATES DO REQUIRE A CVI FOR INTERSTATE IMPORTATION OF CATS AND DOGS Accredited Veterinarians Advise owners on movement requirements of receiving country, state, or exhibition Perform animal inspections and/or examinations Administer vaccines and/or anti-parasite treatments (if required) Collect samples for lab work (if required) Complete CVI and related paperwork If you don t do all the work, credit the vet who did the other part (e.g. Dr. Bob Smith of Hickory, PA took the sample for the Coggins test on 11/5/13) Animals don t live in P.O. Boxes Send the completed paperwork in promptly! CVIs are valid for varying lengths of time depending on the purpose of the certificate, destination and species (e.g. 10 days, 30 days, all fair season, etc.) Some of the ethical considerations required for CVIs in the CFR are ALSO required in the PA Code for veterinary licensure Unprofessional or unethical conduct includes: (6) Issuing any certificate attesting to the physical condition or soundness of an animal without first having personally examined the animal within a reasonable period of time and, by actual inspection and appropriate tests, determined that the animal meets the requirements for issuance of the certificate. A veterinarian may permit an employee to collect samples from animals for tests under the veterinarian s direct supervision. (7) Failing to personally sign any official health document issued by the veterinarian unless the use of a signature stamp is authorized by law. (8) Issuing a pre-signed or pre-stamped official health document. (9) Allowing inappropriate use of the veterinarian s signature stamp

3 7/14/2014 Must record THE ENTIRE official ID FROM THE ANIMAL (not from someone else s paperwork!) for some species and some situations Most livestock have official ID requirements for interstate and international movement In PA, sheep and goat mandatory ID for any movement off the premises In PA, swine mandatory ID requirements for movement off premises If a tattoo cannot be read, it is not a form of ID If a tag is in a plastic bag, it is not the official ID of an animal Some small animals must be officially identified for movement (usually by microchip) Most of the world requires that microchips be ISO Compliant which means that they have 15 digits and are read at a frequency of khz There are now a variety of ISO compliant pet microchips available in the U.S. but there are still a number of non-iso compliant chips Some countries will allow the use of non-iso compliant chips if the owner travels with a reader for that chip. 15 I will be providing some very specific examples in this presentation These are for the purposes of illustrating certain points such as how specific ID requirements can be or what a certification statement might look like These are JUST examples and should not be used as official guidance for a specific animal movement as requirements change frequently and many of these are excerpts from a larger list of requirements. Hawaii requires An electronic microchip readable with a U.S. issue AVID scanner (AVID or Home Again ) must be implanted The Cayman Islands requires Only microchip brands accepted by the International Standards organisation (Standard or Annex A to standard 11785) should be used. St. Kitts and Nevis requires All animals to be imported into St. Kitts and Nevis must be identified with an AVID or Home Again electronic microchip implant 3

4 7/14/2014 NOT the owner Even if using a broker, YOU are still responsible for ensuring the CVI related requirements are met if you are issuing the CVI Interstate Call the state of destination s Department of Agriculture ( International USDA APHIS VS PA Area Office (for appointments, faxed information packets, preapproval of documents, to order international forms) Main number (717) Export line (717) Call the export line first if you get voic , fax your request to ( 20 The Certificate of Examination for Small Animals is now available on-line in a pdf file Despite its name, this is NOT always the correct form for small animal travel If it IS the correct form for your client s destination, you can complete the form electronically, then print and sign it before having it endorsed by the USDA APHIS VS Area office. **Printable EU form for cats and dogs available online at the iregs site for the EU** How far ahead should my client and I plan? Depends on the species and destination Need to coordinate timing of physical exam, required vaccinations and any necessary tests In short, ASAP! As soon as your client knows when and where they are traveling, start researching requirements If they call you and want to take their dog to a foreign country tomorrow, in 99% of cases that is impossible. 22 Use the appropriate required form(s)! Correct mistakes with a single line crossing out the error and initial the change. NEVER use correction fluid or tape. Some countries do not allow any abbreviations such as mo. for months, etc. (best to avoid abbreviations in general) Fill out the form completely! Some countries require the form TYPED (e.g. livestock going to Mexico) Some countries require a bilingual form (e.g. Germany, Italy) Include Certification Statements Include lab results Personally sign document in colored ink! Include permit information when required Hong Kong owner has to pre-apply on paper and pay for a permit from Hong Kong through a fairly complicated process which provides a permit valid for 6 months and one trip only. Kentucky sheep not for slaughter going to KY must travel under a free permit which is obtained by calling the KY Dept of Ag and writing the permit number on the CVI. 23 4

5 7/14/2014 Horses to Canada CVI must include multiple statements as of 12/27/13 such as:the horse has not been on premises where T. equigenitalis has been isolated during the 60 days immediately preceding exportation to Canada or a premises currently under quarantine or investigation for CEM Horses coming to PA from NM as of 12/27/13 CVI must include the VS statement that All animals identified on this certificate of veterinary inspection have been examined and found to be free from VS. During the past 90 days, these animals were not located within 10 miles of a site where VS has been diagnosed. You need to perform the tasks required in the order required You need to perform the tasks required within the time frame prescribed by the destination If travel plans change (or you do something out of order), you may need to start over Go to USDA iregs site which sends you to Australia website for dog and cat import Put in your travel date and species and country of origin and it gives you a timeline to follow! Step 1: Go to Accredited Vet for microchip check and rabies vaccination between 1/31/12 and 8/12/13 Step 2: Go to Accredited Vet for microchip check and rabies titer draw between3/1/12 and 9/2/13 Step 3: Get titer results to USDA for rabies declaration form between3/1/12-1/18/14 Step 4: Apply for Australia import permit between 9/1/13-1/18/14 Step 5: Book pet accommodation for quarantine between 9/22/13-3/1/14 Step 6: Visit Accredited Vet for import permit requirements review, microchip check, PE demonstrating freedom from ticks, deworming and external parasite treatment between 1/15/14 and 2/8/14 Step 7: Visit Accredited Vet for microchip check, 2 nd deworming/external parasite treatments if required on permit, final PE demonstrating freedom from clinical signs of infectious dz and ticks. Complete paperwork between 2/24/14 and 3/1/14 Step 8: Get paperwork endorsed by USDA between 2/24/14 and 3/1/14 Total Time elapsed? Minimum 200 days!!! Includes a minimum of 4 visits to the accredited vet. Pet dogs, cats, and ferrets must be identified with a microchip compatible with ISO standard or or the appropriate microchip reader must be provided along with the pet. Microchip implantation must occur PRIOR to rabies vaccination. Any rabies vaccination that occurs prior to microchip implantation is not considered valid regardless of whether the animal was up-to-date on its previous rabies vaccines. In this case, the animal must be revaccinated. 21 days must have elapsed after the first (primary) vaccination after implantation of the microchip before the animal is eligible to enter the European Union. A rabies vaccination is considered primary if either: (1) an animal was up-to-date on its rabies vaccination but vaccination occurred prior to microchip implantation, (2) vaccination was not carried out within the period of validity of a previous vaccination, or (3) the animal was vaccinated for the first time. 5

6 7/14/2014 Hand delivery and return: make an appointment with the USDA APHIS VS Area Office for while you wait endorsement Shipping: send the documents and payments by expedited shipment (FedEx, UPS, DHS, overnight USPS mail, etc.). Include a pre-paid and addressed return shipment envelope with the documents and payment to ensure that the endorsed form gets back to your client in time The USDA usually has about a 72 hour turn-around time Due to the tight timeframe of most international movement requirements, you should check with the USDA to make sure everything is correct before you send the documents to be endorsed (fax to for pre-check) PDA Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) AAI-13 form 32 For interstate, intrastate movement ONLY NEVER for international movement Both small and large animals Certain fairs or shows Obtained for free from regional PDA office or the PVL BY REQUEST of PA accredited veterinarians 34 Each page says what it is for Copies 1, 2 & 5 mailed to: PDA BAHDS 2301 N. Cameron St. Harrisburg, PA Copy 3 accompanies shipment Copy 4 remains in veterinarian s file 7/1/13 client calls to let you know he is moving to Hawaii and wants to take his cat. 35 6

7 7/14/ Print out Checklist for 5-Day-or-Less Program and Vet Summary Sheet Figure out the possible dates for the cat to travel to Hawaii keep in mind airports acceptable for direct release vs. 5 day or less program and hours of operation. Write up a timeline based on proposed travel date and requirements Give client a copy of the checklist and timeline so he understands how complicated the process is (and therefore your fees ) Cat must have been vaccinated against rabies at least twice in its life, at least 30 days apart, most recent vaccination not expired and not less than 90 days prior to arrival in HI. Must have readable microchip that meets HI microchip requirements in place before blood draw for rabies FAVN. The day AFTER the KSU or DOD lab receives the blood sample that yields a satisfactory result must not be more than 36 months and not less than 120 days before arrival in HI. Fipronil treatment and CVI issuance must occur within 14 days prior to arrival in HI Movement of domestic animals across borders, especially to rabies free locations is COMPLICATED A great attention to detail in timing, order, and paperwork is required to allow these movements to go smoothly You, the accredited vet, need to make sure you know and are willing and able to meet all requirements for a CVI before you agree to issue one Your clients and patients can fly with ease with your help! 7

8 Online Rabies Resources 1. Information about human exposures, preventive vaccination of people, human titers, and appropriate post exposure prophylaxis protocols for people in various situations (a great document to print out and bring with you to the ER if you have an exposure) General rabies information, mostly relating to human health: 3. A wide variety of scientific articles about rabies (including the Texas protocol for post exposure vaccination), available for FREE even for non- AVMA members Sample and printable rabies certificates and current version of the Rabies Compendium (national guidance document NOT Pennsylvania regulations) 5. Submission forms and instructions for rabies submissions (including packaging instructions for shipment) to the Pennsylvania Veterinary Lab in Harrisburg, PA specific rabies information and historical data 6. (or perform a web search for Pennsylvania Bureau of Laboratories Rabies) Submission forms and instructions for rabies submissions to the Pennsylvania Department of Health Bureau of Laboratories in Lionville AJS

9 Pennsylvania Rabies Vaccination Requirements and Information What animals are required to be vaccinated against rabies in Pennsylvania? In Pennsylvania, all dogs and cats** must be vaccinated against rabies between 12 and 16 weeks of age, following the vaccine manufacturer s instructions. Following the initial vaccination, dogs and cats** must be vaccinated again 12 to 14 months later, regardless of the animal s age at the first vaccination. After the second rabies vaccination, dogs and cats** must be vaccinated on an ongoing basis according to the vaccine label instructions. What about dogs or cats that never go outside? Indoor-only animals are still required by law to be vaccinated against rabies because we have seen many rabid animals that get inside houses (especially bats) and we have seen indoor-only animals that get out and are exposed to wildlife or feral cats. Who can administer this required rabies vaccination to dogs and cats** in Pennsylvania? A licensed veterinarian Someone under direct veterinary supervision A Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Dog Law kennel licensee with a limited certificate to vaccinate. However, these animals are considered legally vaccinated only while owned by the kennel licensee and kept at the kennel. If they are sold or given away, or the kennel is no longer licensed, they must be revaccinated immediately by a licensed veterinarian or under his/her direct supervision. What is direct veterinary supervision? When a veterinarian is on the premises and has given either oral or written instructions to a certified veterinary technician or noncertified employee and is easily and quickly available to assist the certified veterinary technician or the noncertified employee. What must the veterinarian provide a cat**/dog owner when vaccinating their animal against rabies? The owner must be provided a completed rabies vaccination certificate, signed by a licensed veterinarian. A rabies vaccination certificate is defined in Pennsylvania as follows: Certificate of vaccination A certificate verifying vaccination against rabies, containing information consistent with the current version of the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians Rabies Compendium. The sample certificate at is the model form, but you may use any form you like that includes the required information. Remember that a rabies vaccination certificate is a legal document and must be filled out as accurately as possible. For example, there is no currently licensed 2 year duration rabies vaccination. The only legally correct durations of rabies vaccinations currently are 1 year or 3 years The veterinarian is also required to give the owner a rabies tag bearing the year of vaccination. ** What is a cat? In the rabies law for the purpose of vaccination, a cat is defined as A carnivorous mammal scientifically known as Felis catus which spends part of a 24-hour day in a residence inhabited by a human being. (So barn cats, outdoor-only cats, and feral cats that never go in a house are exempt from vaccination requirements. Sadly, they are not exempt from becoming rabid so we do recommend that they be vaccinated.) Revised

10 Pennsylvania Rabies Vaccination Requirements and Information (cont.) What animals can a licensed veterinarian vaccinate against rabies? Extra-label use of rabies vaccine is NOT illegal in Pennsylvania. Although vaccination may prevent many off-label species from developing clinical rabies and shedding virus in their saliva, there simply hasn t been enough research on the use of the vaccine in these animals to provide the same level of assurance as for the animals listed on the label. Therefore, animals vaccinated in an extra-label fashion are legally considered unvaccinated. Extra-label vaccination is not illegal even in pet raccoons and other unusual pets. Extra-label use of rabies vaccine is at the discretion of the practitioner even in food animals (as per FARAD). This is a common concern since currently there are no licensed rabies vaccines for goats or pigs. Who can purchase and administer rabies vaccine to animals in Pennsylvania? It is not illegal for owners to purchase and use rabies vaccine on their own animals in Pennsylvania. However, those animals will not be considered legally vaccinated in the event of exposure to rabies. The legal definition of "Vaccinated against rabies" in Pennsylvania is the status of an animal that: (1) Has undergone administration of unexpired rabies vaccine in accordance with the specifications of the vaccine manufacturer: (I) By a licensed veterinarian; or (II) Under direct veterinary supervision; and (2) Is a member of an animal species for which the rabies vaccine has been approved for use. What about cats**/dogs that are overdue for rabies vaccination and present for vaccination? If the animal has ever previously been vaccinated against rabies, the animal is considered immediately, legally vaccinated following revaccination for the duration indicated on the vaccine label (e.g. three years). An additional vaccination after one year is not required unless a one year labeled vaccine is used. Veterinarians who prefer to have overdue animals come in for annual vaccination can use a rabies vaccine with a one year label instead of a labeled three year vaccine. Can a dog or cat s** titer be used instead of vaccination against rabies? Rabies titers are not a substitute for vaccination against rabies. While titers indicate that an immune response has occurred in response to vaccination or exposure, they are not necessarily correlated with protection against actual rabies challenge as the immune response to rabies challenge is complex. ** What is a cat? In the rabies law for the purpose of vaccination, a cat is defined as A carnivorous mammal scientifically known as Felis catus which spends part of a 24-hour day in a residence inhabited by a human being. (So barn cats, outdoor-only cats, and feral cats that never go in a house are exempt from vaccination requirements. Sadly, they are not exempt from becoming rabid so we do recommend that they be vaccinated.) Revised

11 PENNSYLVANIA RABIES VACCINATION EXEMPTION INFORMATION Does Pennsylvania offer a rabies vaccination exemption? As of September 7, 2013, there is a legal option for medical exemption from the requirement for dogs and cats** to be vaccinated against rabies. However, regardless of the reason for not vaccinating, the animal is still not as protected against rabies infection as a fully vaccinated animal. Therefore, the exemption means ONLY that the owner of the animal is not committing a crime by failing to have their dog or cat** vaccinated against rabies. In every other way, the animal s status as an unvaccinated animal is unchanged legally. For example, if the legally exempt animal is exposed to rabies, it still must either be euthanized or quarantined for six months. In addition, the exempt animal cannot board at a licensed kennel or participate in other activities that require actual vaccination. How does a dog or cat** owner obtain an exemption? (1) A licensed veterinarian must examine the dog or cat** and determine that it would be medically contraindicated to vaccinate against rabies. (2) An exemption statement must be completed and signed by the licensed veterinarian and dog or cat** owner and must contain the following information in order to be valid: (i) the signature of the veterinarian and the veterinarian's license number; (ii) the date; (iii) the name and address of the veterinary practice, office or clinic; (iv) an explanation of the medical reason contraindicating vaccination against rabies; and (v) a description of the dog or cat** that includes: (A) breed; (B) sex; (C) age; (D) color and markings; (E) whether the dog or cat** is intact, neutered or spayed; and (F) the current license number of the dog that includes any permanent identification, if applicable (e.g. tattoo or microchip). (vi) The signature of the owner of the dog or cat** and the address of the owner. If there is more than one owner, and the owners are living at separate locations where the dog or cat** may be housed, the signature and address of both owners is required. (3) The veterinarian shall maintain the signed exemption as part of the medical records and provide two copies to the owner. The owner of the dog or cat** shall maintain one copy of the signed exemption for their records and forward one copy to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Office of Dog Law Enforcement, 2301 North Cameron Street, Harrisburg, PA How long is a medical exemption valid? An exemption from vaccination against rabies is valid for a period of up to one calendar year, after which the dog or cat** shall be reexamined. At the reexamination, the dog or cat** shall either be vaccinated against rabies or, if exemption status still applies, a new certificate of exemption shall be issued. ** What is a cat? In the rabies law for the purpose of vaccination, a cat is defined as A carnivorous mammal scientifically known as Felis catus which spends part of a 24-hour day in a residence inhabited by a human being. (So barn cats, outdoor-only cats, and feral cats that never go in a house are exempt from vaccination requirements. Sadly, they are not exempt from becoming rabid so we do recommend that they be vaccinated.) Revised

12 Using the Quick Courier Service to Send Specimens to the Lab Since March 15, 2012, the Department of Agriculture has been using Quick Courier Service for all courier shipments (most often these are rabies specimens, but other specimens going to the Pennsylvania Veterinary Lab such as blood samples for Brucellosis testing or blood and swab samples for Equine Herpes Virus testing could also be sent this way). Quick requests that all calls for same day pick- up be placed by 12:00 noon. If, because of your business practices, a later time would better suit, please call Quick to see if it would be possible to establish a later calling time deadline with them. Charges for pick- ups made from veterinary practices will continue and will remain at the current rate of $15.00 per package (or more depending on package weight when above 60 lb) for specimens going to the Pennsylvania Veterinary Lab (PVL). When requesting a pickup, please use code Rabies Pickup Account PA- VETE23 For human exposure samples being sent from veterinary clinics to Lionville laboratory, the shipping rate may vary please ask for the rate when you call Quick Courier. Your clinic will need to set up a payment method with the Courier. The Lionville Laboratory is part of the Pennsylvania Department of Health NOT the Department of Agriculture so the procedure and costs are different. Weekend pick- ups and same day deliveries to either lab will be billed at a higher rate which will be determined by Quick. Please remember that equine and bovine heads which are involved in a human rabies exposure incident must be sent to the Pennsylvania Veterinary Laboratory in Harrisburg because the Lionville Laboratory cannot process samples of that size, although the extracted brain from such a specimen can still be sent to Lionville. Any package which requires refrigeration must be labeled as such and the courier should be notified when the package is picked up. Quick does have refrigeration capabilities for all packages that are held overnight or over a weekend or holiday, but they must be made aware of the need for refrigeration of a particular package in order to guarantee that refrigeration will be provided. It is best simply to pack the specimen properly with adequate ice packs and NOT to ship a package over a holiday or weekend. To request a pick- up, please call Quick Courier at You will be given all information necessary for completing the order by their service person. Online service will be limited to the PADLS laboratories. Please use one of the following addresses: PA Department of Health or PVL (Lionville Laboratory) 2305 N. Cameron St. 110 Pickering Way Harrisburg, PA Exton, PA For questions or problems related to the courier service, please contact Dr. David Griswold , or dgriswold@pa.gov

13 RABIES PREVENTION AND CONTROL IN DOMESTIC ANIMALS AND WILDLIFE ACT Act of Dec. 15, 1986, P.L. 1610, No. 181 Cl. 03 WITH the Changes Made by Senate Bill No. 155 of 2013 AN ACT Providing for the establishment and operation of a Statewide system for the prevention and control of rabies; imposing additional powers and duties on the Departments of Agriculture and Health; providing for emergency declarations; fixing penalties for violations; and making an appropriation. TABLE OF CONTENTS Section 1. Short title. Section 2. Findings. Section 3. Legislative intent. Section 4. Definitions. Section 5. Statewide system for rabies control. Section 6. Powers and duties of department. Section 8. Vaccination required; certificate and tag. Section 9.1. Veterinarians participating in low-cost rabies clinics. Section 10. Reserved Section 11. Penalty. Section 12. Disposition of fines and penalties. Section 13. Appropriation. Section 14. Repeals. The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows: Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as the Rabies Prevention and Control in Domestic Animals and Wildlife Act. Section 2. Findings. (a) Incidence of rabies.-- Each year several hundred cases of rabies in animals are reported in this Commonwealth. The animals include wild animals, livestock and domestic pets. Human exposure can occur through contact with rabid animals. (b) Impact of rabies epidemic.--the socioeconomic impact of rabies in animals and humans is significant. Infection by the rabies virus is almost always fatal. The protocol surrounding a single suspected rabid animal requires the expenditure of both monetary and human resources by the department, and the human postexposure prophylaxis is expensive. Section 3. Legislative intent. It is the intent of the General Assembly to provide a comprehensive rabies control program involving control, prevention and education.

14 Section 4. Definitions. The following words and phrases when used in this act shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: "Cat." A carnivorous mammal scientifically known as Felis Catus which spends any part of any 24-hour day in a residence inhabited by a human being. "Certificate of vaccination." A certificate verifying vaccination against rabies, containing information consistent with the current version of the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians Rabies Compendium. "Department." The Department of Agriculture of the Commonwealth. "Direct veterinary supervision." Occurs when a veterinarian is on the premises and has given either oral or written instructions to a certified veterinary technician or noncertified employee and is easily and quickly available to assist the certified veterinary technician or the noncertified employee. "Dog Law." The act of December 7, 1982(P.L.784, No.225), known as the Dog Law. "Permanent Identification. As defined in Section 102 of the Act of December 7, 1982 (P.L.784, NO.225), known as the Dog Law. "Rabies." A viral disease affecting the central nervous system of a mammal that is transmitted through contact with saliva or other potentially infectious material such as neural tissue from an infected animal, including, but not limited to, a bite, scratch and contact of saliva or other infectious material with broken skin, an eye or mucous membrane. "Rabies vaccine." A product used to stimulate an immune response to rabies, licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture and listed in the current version of the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians Rabies Compendium. "Secretary." The Secretary of Agriculture of the Commonwealth. "Suspected rabid animal." A mammal exhibiting behavior that is suggestive of infection with rabies in the opinion of a veterinarian, public health official or official representative of the department, the Department of Health or the Pennsylvania Game Commission. "Vaccinated against rabies." The status of an animal that: (1)Has undergone administration of unexpired rabies vaccine in accordance with the specifications of the vaccine manufacturer: (I)By a licenced veterinarian; or (II)Under direct veterinary supervision; and (2) Is a member of an animal species for which the rabies vaccine has been approved for use.

15 Section 5. Statewide system for rabies control. The department, in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Game Commission and the Department of Health, shall establish a Statewide system for the prevention and control of rabies in both wild and domestic animals. The system will encompass both a comprehensive research program aimed at ending the rabies epidemic in the wild and a rabies control program which includes standardized procedures to follow in this Commonwealth. Section 6. Powers and duties of department. The department shall have the following powers and duties: (1) Monitor, in cooperation with the Department of Health and the Pennsylvania Game Commission, the confirmed incidences of rabies in both domestic and wild animals. (2) Coordinate and cooperate with Federal, State and local health or animal regulatory authorities as necessary to perform its responsibilities under this act. This includes the authority to enter into agreements to facilitate the distribution of rabies vaccine impregnated animal baits to wildlife within this Commonwealth by Federal or local health or animal regulatory authorities, and to otherwise effectively allocate responsibilities, equipment, expertise and manpower in furtherance of the objectives of this act. (3) Institute the relevant actions outlined in this act, as well as others determined by the department until it is determined that the threat of the rabies epidemic no longer exists. (4) Reserved. Section 8. Vaccination required; certificate and tag. (a) Vaccination against rabies required.-- (1) A person owning or keeping a dog or a cat in this Commonwealth shall have the dog or cat vaccinated against rabies within four weeks after the date the dog or cat attains 12 weeks of age. (2) A person owning or keeping a dog or cat that is required to be vaccinated against rabies shall produce either proof of vaccination, or exemption status under subsection (f), within 48 hours after a police officer, State dog warden, department official or designated municipal animal control officer requests the proof. A dog or cat less than 12 weeks of age may be vaccinated against rabies according to vaccine manufacturer instructions if there is a rabies vaccine licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture and listed in the current version of the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians Rabies Compendium that is labeled for use in a dog or cat less than 12 weeks of age. (3) Unless otherwise indicated by the directions of the vaccine manufacturer, a booster vaccination shall be administered between 12 and 14 months from the date of the initial vaccination regardless of the age of the animal at initial vaccination. The animal shall then be subsequently revaccinated on an ongoing basis in accordance with the directions of the vaccine manufacturer.

16 (b) Limited certificate to vaccinate.-- (1) A person who holds any of the following types of kennel licenses under the Dog Law may apply to the department for a limited certificate authorizing the person to whom it is issued to vaccinate a dog or cat within the possession of the licensed kennel: (I) Commercial kennel, in compliance with section 207 (I)(7) of the Dog Law (II) Dealer kennel (III)Nonprofit kennel (IV) Private kennel (V) Research kennel (2) The department shall develop, implement and administer a comprehensive rabies vaccination instruction program encompassing a written examination, which, if successfully completed, will lead to issuance of a limited certificate as described in paragraph (1). A person seeking a limited certificate shall provide the department written verification that was issued by a licensed veterinarian and confirms the applicant was provided a demonstration of rabies vaccination procedures by the licensed veterinarian, and the applicant demonstrated competence in administering the vaccine. The department may assess a fee for the program and examination. All fees received and all costs incurred shall be deposited in or expended from the Dog Law Restricted Account. The department shall promulgate all rules and regulations necessary to implement this subsection. (3) A person to whom a limited certificate under paragraph (1) is issued shall: (i) Purchase and administer a rabies vaccine for vaccination of dogs and cats only from a licensed veterinarian or a source approved by the department. (ii) Administer the vaccine in an approved manner so the dog or cat is properly vaccinated against rabies. (iii) Maintain detailed records for at least three years which indicate: (A) The name, type, lot number, date of purchase and date of administration of the rabies vaccine. (B) A detailed description of the dog or cat vaccinated. The description shall include the breed, age, color, markings, sex and any permanent identification markers such as a microchip or tattoo. (C) The full name, address, certification number and telephone number of the person who administered the vaccine. (iv) Provide immediate access to the records described in subparagraph (iii) upon the request of the department. (c) Certificate and tag of vaccination.--every licensed veterinarian who vaccinates a dog or cat against rabies shall issue a certificate of vaccination and tag to the owner. Information contained in rabies vaccination records shall not be used for the purpose of licensing animals or for taxation of individuals for owning animals. For the purposes of this section, each licensed veterinarian may select a vaccine of his choice and use the procedures for administering it as are consistent with the recommendations of the Federal agency which licenses the vaccine.

17 (d) Enforcement.--A police officer or State dog warden or the designated municipal animal control officer shall issue a citation to every person who owns a dog or cat which is not either: (1) vaccinated against rabies pursuant to subsection (a) or (b); or (2) exempt from the vaccination requirement pursuant to subsection (f). (e) Animals received by nonprofit kennels. Notwithstanding any provision of this act, a nonprofit kennel is not required to vaccinate an animal received by the kennel for a period of ten days. (f) Exemption.-- (1) An exemption from vaccination against rabies for a dog or cat under subsection (a) may be granted if a licensed veterinarian examines the dog or cat and determines that it would be medically contraindicated to vaccinate. (2)An exemption statement must be completed and signed by the veterinarian and dog or cat owner and must contain the following information in order to be valid: (i) the signature of the veterinarian and the veterinarian's license number; (ii) the date; (iii) the name and address of the veterinary practice, office or clinic; (iv) (v) (v) an explanation of the medical reason contraindicating accination against rabies; and a description of the dog or cat that includes: (A) breed; (B) sex; (C) age; (D) color and markings; (E) whether the dog or cat is intact, neutered or spayed; and (F) the current license number of the dog that includes any permanent identification, if applicable. The signature of the owner of the dog or cat and the address of the owner. If there is more than one owner, and the owners are living at separate locations where the dog or cat may be housed, the signature and address of both owners is required. (3) An exemption from vaccination against rabies is valid for a period of up to one calendar year, after which the dog or cat shall be reexamined. At the reexamination, the dog or cat shall either be vaccinated against rabies or, if exemption status still applies, a new certificate of exemption shall be issued. (4) The veterinarian shall maintain the signed exemption as part of the medical records and provide two copies to the owner. The owner of the dog or cat shall maintain one copy of the signed exemption for their records and forward one copy to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Office of Dog Law Enforcement, 2301 North Cameron Street, Harrisburg, PA

18 (g) The owner or operator of a boarding kennel, as defined in Section 102 of the Act of December 7, 1982 (P.L.784, No.225), known as the Dog Law, shall require the owner of each dog for which the boarding kennel is taking control to provide proof of an up-to-date rabies vaccination at the time the dog enters the boarding kennel. The proof of vaccination shall be kept on file at the boarding kennel for seven days following the dog s departure from the boarding kennel. All rabies vaccination records and owner contact information for dogs involved in a dog attack at a boarding kennel shall be made available to the owners of all dogs that are injured in the dog attack. Section 9.1. Veterinarians participating in low-cost rabies clinics. (a) General rule.--except as otherwise provided in this section, no veterinarian or an assistant under direct veterinary supervision shall be liable to any person for civil damages as a result of any acts or omissions committed as a participant in a low-cost rabies clinic established under section 9, unless the conduct of the veterinarian falls below the standards generally practiced and accepted in like circumstances by veterinarians performing the same or similar acts, and unless it is shown that the veterinarian did an act or omitted the doing of an act which the veterinarian was under a recognized duty to another to do, knowing or having reason to know that the act or omission created a risk of actual harm to the person or property of another. It shall be insufficient to impose liability to establish only that the conduct of the veterinarian fell below ordinary standards of care. (b) Exception.--Nothing in this section shall be construed as affecting or modifying any existing legal basis for determining the liability, or any defense thereto, of a veterinarian set forth in the act of December 27, 1974 (P.L.995,No.326), known as the Veterinary Medicine Practice Act. Section 10. Reserved Section 11. Penalty. A person who violates any provision of this act commits a summary offense and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine not exceeding $300 for each violation. Each day of violation shall constitute a separate offense. Section 12. Disposition of fines and penalties. If a prosecution pursuant to this act is initiated by a State dog warden, employee of the department or State Police officer, all fines forfeited, recognizances and other forfeitures imposed, lost or forfeited under this act shall be payable through the Department of Agriculture into the State Treasury for credit to the Dog Law Restricted Account. If a prosecution pursuant to this act is initiated by a local police officer or designated animal control officer, all fines forfeited, recognizances and other forfeitures imposed, lost or forfeited under this act shall be payable to the political subdivision which employs such local police officer or designated animal control officer. Section 13. Appropriation. The sum of $273,000, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated to the Department of Agriculture for the fiscal year July 1, 1986, to June 30, 1987, for the development and administration of a comprehensive multiyear wildlife rabies vaccine research program. Section 14. Repeals. All acts and parts of acts are repealed insofar as they are inconsistent with this act.

19 Ch. 16 RABIES PREVENTION AND CONTROL CHAPTER 16. RABIES PREVENTION AND CONTROL Subchap. Sec. A. GENERAL PROVISIONS B. CONTROL OF RABIES C. RABIES VACCINATION D. CERTIFICATION OF OWNERS AND OPERATORS OF STATE-LICENSED KENNELS Authority The provisions of this Chapter 16 issued under the Rabies Prevention and Control in Domestic Animals and Wildlife Act (3 P. S ); act of July 22, 1913 (P. L. 928, No. 441) (3 P. S , , , 395, 397, 401, 402, 412, 421, and ); and act of April 17, 1929 (P. L. 533, No. 236) (3 P. S ), unless otherwise noted. Source The provisions of this Chapter 16 adopted December 18, 1987, effective December 19, 1987, 17 Pa.B. 5231, unless otherwise noted. Sec Definitions Penalties. Subchapter A. GENERAL PROVISIONS Definitions. The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: Act The Rabies Prevention and Control in Domestic Animals and Wildlife Act (3 P. S ). Cat A carnivorous mammal scientifically known as Felis catus which spends part of a 24-hour day in a residence inhabited by a human being. For the purposes of Subchapter B (relating to control of rabies), the term includes members of the Felis catus species regardless of their location or relationship to humans. Certificate of vaccination A statement signed by a licensed veterinarian attesting to the vaccination of a dog or cat and recording the identification, breed, sex, age and color of the animal, the vaccination tag number, the name, lot number, duration of immunity and manufacturer of the vaccine and the date of vaccination. Department The Department of Agriculture of the Commonwealth. Dog The genus and species known as Canis familiaris. Domestic animal An equine animal, bovine animal, sheep, goat, pig, dog or cat. (276675) No. 319 Jun

20 BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY Pt. I Exposed to rabies A human or domestic animal that has been bitten by an animal infected with rabies or that has had an open wound, scratch, eye or mucous membrane in contact with saliva from an animal infected with rabies. Licensed kennel A kennel that is licensed by the Department under the Dog Law (3 P. S ). Official rabies test Fluorescent antibody, animal inoculation or other tests which have been or may be approved by the USDA or the USPHS and which are conducted in a State laboratory or other facility designated by the Secretary. Person An individual, partnership, association or corporation. Quarantine Restriction of the movement, use and disposition of animals, premises, equipment, vehicles and other articles to prevent the spread of rabies. Rabies In man and animal, hydrophobia, an acute viral disease of the central nervous system usually transmitted to man through the injection of saliva by an animal bite. Secretary The Secretary of the Department. Suspected of having rabies A mammal exhibiting behavior which, in the opinion of a veterinarian, public health official or official representative of the Department, the Department of Health or the Game Commission, is suggestive of infection with rabies. USDA The United States Department of Agriculture. USPHS The United States Public Health Service. Wild animal An animal other than a domestic animal Penalties. A person who violates the act commits a summary offense and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine not exceeding $300 for each violation. Each day of violation constitutes a separate offense. Subchapter B. CONTROL OF RABIES Sec Report of suspicion of infection Special quarantine required for domestic animals Domestic animal bites Wild animal bites General quarantine order. Cross References This subchapter cited in 7 Pa. Code 16.1 (relating to definitions) (276676) No. 319 Jun. 01 Copyright 2001 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

21 Ch. 16 RABIES PREVENTION AND CONTROL Report of suspicion of infection. A veterinarian, physician or public health officer who suspects that an animal may be infected with rabies shall report the suspicion to the Department Special quarantine required for domestic animals. (a) A domestic animal suspected of having or having been exposed to rabies will be quarantined by the Department. (1) A domestic animal suspected of having rabies will be placed under a special quarantine order by the Department. To prevent exposure to humans and other animals, the order shall cover a single premises or a single animal or a number of animals when confined or contained in or on the same premises and may also cover products or materials that may carry rabies. (2) A domestic animal suspected of having rabies that dies or is euthanatized shall be disposed of by incineration or by burial under the act of May 18, 1945 (P. L. 796, No. 317), known as the Dead Animal Rendering or Disposal Plant Law (3 P. S ). (3) A domestic animal suspected of having rabies may not be released from quarantine until suspicion of rabies is dispelled or until the animal has died or has been euthanatized and disposed of under paragraph (2). (4) A domestic animal suspected of having rabies that is known to have bitten or otherwise exposed a human shall be immediately, humanely euthanatized and subjected to an official rabies test. (5) A domestic animal suspected of having rabies that is known to have bitten or otherwise exposed a domestic animal and that dies within 10 days after the biting or exposure incident, or both, shall immediately be subjected to an official rabies test. (b) A domestic animal exposed to rabies or exposed to an animal suspected of having rabies shall be quarantined and confined to the owner s premises. (1) If the exposed animal has been vaccinated at least 2 weeks prior to exposure and the duration of immunity has not expired, the exposed animal may, in the absence of any signs of rabies, be released from quarantine 90 days after exposure. (2) If the exposed animal has not been vaccinated or if the duration of immunity has expired, the exposed animal shall be placed under quarantine for 6 months. (3) No tissues or secretions from an exposed food animal exhibiting signs of rabies may be sold, transported or used for human or animal consumption. (4) Food animals exposed, but which are not exhibiting signs of rabies, may be moved to a licensed rendering plant or slaughtered for animal consumption if processed by cooking. Consumption of the animals after proper processing does not constitute a rabies exposure. (276677) No. 319 Jun